About
Edwin Gutierrez Rodriguez
Extension Agent I
Multi-County, Citrus
DeSoto, Hardee and Manatee Counties
About
Edwin was born in Colombia, where he earned his degree as an Agronomic Engineer in 2008. Coming from a family of growers, he later obtained his master's degree in Horticulture from UFGRS and a Ph.D. in Agronomy from UNESP in Brazil, funded by a Colombian government scholarship. In 2016, he was a short-term Visitor Scholar at the TREC/UF center and returned as a Postdoctoral Researcher between 2022 and 2025, working on a multistate project focused on avocados. Much of his professional experience has involved collaborating with growers and conducting research on crops such as fruit trees and cacao. From July 2025, he serves as the UF/IFAS Multi-County Citrus Agent for DeSoto, Hardee, and Manatee counties. In this role, he develops an extension program that combines knowledge and tools for growers, homeowners, and children involved in 4-H programs, with an emphasis on horticulture techniques, farm safety, water management, and more..